Call to bring back fugitive killers of Bangabandhu

Speakers at a discussion here today called for effective steps to bring back the fugitive killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

They lamented that even after 43 years of the gruesome assassination of Bangabandhu, a number of convicted key perpetrators were still at large eluding justice.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said, “A draconian black law was put in place to protect the killers of the architect of our independence. Ziaur Rahman did not scrap the law and that remained in effect until AL came to power in 1996.”

The discussion was arranged by Awami League’s international affairs sub-committee with around 50 diplomats from different missions attending the event at the Bangabandhu Museum on Dhanmondi Road 32 in the capital. AL presidium member Lt Col (retd) Muhammad Faruq Khan, AL lawmaker Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and AL International Affairs Secretary Dr Shammi Ahmed addressed the function.

Anisul Huq said though the killers of Bangabandhu and most of his family members were brought to justice, the behind the scene perpetrators are yet to be brought to justice.

Taposh, son of August 15 martyrs Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni and his wife Arzu Moni, said he was only a child when his parents along with Bangabandhu were assassinated in the August 15 carnage.

The AL lawmaker said no educational institutions wanted to admit him fearing that the then government would punish them.

He said there were different propaganda against Bangabandhu and his (Taposh’s) father.

“My birthday is on November 19. On November 19, 2009, the Supreme Court upheld a High Court verdict, confirming capital punishment of 12 people for killing Bangabandhu and most of his family members including my parents on August 15, 1975. It was the biggest gift on my birthday,” he added.

Documentaries and interviews on the August 15 carnage were screened in the discussion.